Farr wins NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize

Tracy Farr has won the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) (NZSA) Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize for Wonderland, an alt-history set on Te Motu Kairangi Miramar Peninsula in 1912.

The prize, created by the NZSA and the Solomon family to fulfil the wishes of writer Laura Solomon, recognises new writing of ‘unique and original vision’, and awards a cash prize of NZ$2000 and a publishing contract with The Cuba Press.

Abigail von Ahsen also received NZ$1000 as runner-up for her manuscript ‘Flawless’.

Farr was chosen as the winner by a panel comprising Mary McCallum and Denika Mead from The Cuba Press, Nicky Solomon, and writer Cassie Hart. The judges said: ‘Once again the finalists were a staggeringly talented set of authors with a diverse range of styles, all with the requisite “unique and original voice” that guides the selection.’

‘It was hard to pick a winner, but we all felt Wonderland stood out for its sheer originality and the lyricism of its writing, which transported us while we read and stayed with us after we’d finished,’ the judges said. ‘It’s an absolute delight.’

The Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize has been awarded annually since 2021. More information about Solomon and the prize is on the NZSA website.

The Cuba Press plans to publish Wonderland in 2025.

Category: Awards Local news